Water birdie from Mickelson

One of the more outrageous birdies of his career – and there have been an awful lot of them – propelled Phil Mickelson into the lead in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond today.

The world number three, chasing his first solo victory on European soil since 1993 and the perfect boost leading into the British Open at Carnoustie, resumed one behind France’s Gregory Havret and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara and that gap looked set to grow when he hit his approach to the 518-yard third into the edge of the pond right of the green.

But on arriving at the spot Mickelson saw a chance to splash the ball out, so put on his waterproofs and without any undue delay – he did not fancy the idea of sinking without trace – swung and was delighted to see the ball finish 10 feet from the flag.

Holing the putt for a birdie four was purely a bonus, but it lifted him to 10 under and alongside not only Havret and Lara, but also Finland’s former British amateur champion Mikko Ilonen.

Lara did then grab a two-stroke lead with birdies at the third and fourth, but while he bogeyed the next two holes in the strengthening wind Mickelson picked up further shots on the seventh and ninth.

Out in a superb 33 the left-hander was 12 under and two clear of Lara and Havret, with England’s Ian Poulter and Swede Pelle Edberg one further back in fourth.

Mickelson’s one previous solo victory in Europe was not even a European Tour event. It was the “second division” Tournoi Perrier in Paris and, just 22 at the time and in his first full season as a professional, he beat Australian Steve Elkington by a shot at the EuroDisney resort.

Poulter did even better than Mickelson on the outward half, his four-birdie 32 taking him to 10 under, but he then bogeyed the short 11th.

Another to make a charge was Finn Ilonen, who setting off again on six under had four successive birdies from the third to take a share of top spot. The former British amateur champion followed with bogeys on the ninth and 13th, though.

Meanwhile, world number five Ernie Els, twice a winner of the title, reached nine under by chipping in at the third, only to take two in a bunker on the short fifth and then bogeyed the 625-yard sixth and 11th as well.

With conditions far tougher the 64 at the start of the day by South African Louis Oosthuizen looking better and better.

Oosthuizen has a flight home to South Africa booked for Thursday, but another round like the one he produced today and he will be only too happy to cancel it.

Thursday is also the start of the Open Championship at Carnoustie and, having survived the halfway cut with nothing to spare, Oosthuizen moved into contention for the one British Open spot up for grabs.

First player off in the third round at 7.45am, the 24-year-old product of the Ernie Els Foundation improved from one under par to eight under.

Known as Shrek – and with a head cover on his driver to match – the former world junior champion followed an eagle on the 518-yard third with five birdies in the last seven holes.

And this a week after he finished next-to-last at the European Open in Ireland with two rounds of 79.

“You get days like those, but playing the last seven holes in the rain in level par yesterday to make the cut gave me a confidence boost,” he said.

Ireland’s Graeme McDowell also showed that low scoring was again possible by posting a 67 for a five under total.

McDowell is looking forward to Carnoustie after the experience of leading the British Open at Hoylake last year with his opening 66.

He eventually finished only 61st and reflected: “What I learnt is that it’s a bit demoralising when Tiger comes zooming past, but I think there would be a massive difference if I get into the position again.”

Angel Cabrera, the reigning US Open champion, looked set to make a big move through the field as well when he turned in 33, but then came a double-bogey seven on the 13th and the Argentinian had to settle for a 70 and two under aggregate.